Chapter 183
To describe the recent home life of Li Miyan and Xie Lian, one could only call it hell mode.
Under Xie Mi’s constant creative torment, the mother and son pair seemed to have lost all strength and means of resistance.
If Xie Mi said one, they didn’t dare say two. If she so much as frowned, they panicked. Their only moments of joy were the few hours each day when she went out.
A tyrant. A naked, undisguised tyrant.
After once again sneaking glances at her behind her back—only to be tattled on by Old Bai—they finally learned to behave, putting on forced smiles as they obediently cleaned.
Xie Mi began looking through the two letters.
The first was from Xiao Jingxi.
[If you miss me out of spite, can you guarantee you won’t regret it in the future? If you come around, give me a call.]
As expected, it was a classic narcissistic speech. It amused Xie Mi greatly.
She read it as a joke, tossed it casually into the trash, and opened the other.
This one was from Yu Jinzhe. The contents were much simpler:
[Sister, wait for me at home.]
Xie Mi pondered for two seconds, then called Xie Lian over. Smiling sweetly, she said, “If Yu Jinzhe dares step into our house in the next few days, I’ll dismantle your secret chamber. Understand?”
Xie Lian’s whole body shuddered, and he nodded frantically.
That very night, Yu Jinzhe came looking for her at home—only to be barred at the door by the heavily-guarding Xie Lian. The two nearly came to blows.
But the defenses held.
Hearing about Xie Mi’s flawless maneuver, Shen Yanqing’s laughter over their in-game voice chat was like music.
“Teacher Xie really does have the best ideas.”
As his words fell, his in-game character executed a dazzling string of skills—netting a clean pentakill.
Once again, Xie Mi was moved to tears.
This kid was a gaming prodigy.
Not long ago on the show, he hadn’t even known how to push towers. Now, he could carry her to rank up.
Talent really was something to envy.
After clinching the victory, Shen Yanqing asked, “Want to keep going?”
“Hm?”
Xie Mi glanced at the time—it was 1 a.m.
Normally, this was her prime battle time in the canyon. But tonight…
“Forget it. Let’s turn in early.”
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but after she said this, his tone carried a hint of laughter.
“Then I’ll come pick you up early tomorrow.”
The long-awaited date with Shen Yanqing arrived right on schedule.
In the past few days, the two had forged a strong revolutionary bond—mostly because Shen Yanqing had carried her through over a dozen star-rank climbs.
Thanks to this, she was genuinely looking forward to today’s internet café date.
She woke early, mapped out what games they’d play, and changed clothes. Soon after, his message arrived:
[185PureheartedBodhisattva]: I’m downstairs.
When she came down, this was what she saw:
A tall, long-legged man in a stylishly cut shirt, hair that looked casually tousled but was clearly well-groomed, the faint scent of cologne.
He was clearly dressed with care.
In contrast—
Xie Mi wore a plaid shirt and baggy shorts, her hair in a ponytail tucked under a baseball cap, and a big shoulder bag stuffed with game guides.
Generously speaking, she looked like she was going out to play. Less generously, she looked like a scavenger.
Scavenger Xie Mi blinked at Shen Yanqing for two seconds, then grinned.
“Bro, you smell so good.”
Shen Yanqing laughed. “You’re pretty der yourself.”
Despite his words, there wasn’t a trace of disdain in his tone.
Like a gentleman, he stepped forward to open the car door for her, shielding her head so she wouldn’t bump it. Once she was seated, he thoughtfully adjusted the AC vents so they wouldn’t blow directly at her.
Xie Mi studied him for a moment, then asked seriously:
“Do you have ADHD?”
“Pfft—”
His fingers froze mid-motion, and he burst out laughing in exasperation. “Thanks a lot.”
According to the date plan, the first stop was hotpot.
Shen Yanqing had done his homework, booking a top-rated hotpot restaurant in S City. Every dish matched her tastes perfectly, and she was full of praise with every bite.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanqing—tasked with filming their vlog—spent half the time pointing the camera at her, smiling all the while.
“Why are you only filming me?”
Puzzled, Xie Mi asked, “It’s supposed to be a date vlog, right? Both people need to be on screen. Here, let me film you.”
She took the phone, swung the lens around, and caught him off guard.
Not used to being so close to the camera, Shen Yanqing smiled sheepishly. “What am I supposed to do now?”
Already slipping into the role of director, Xie Mi instructed from behind the lens:
“Pick up your chopsticks. Cook a slice of beef tripe.”
Shen Yanqing obediently did so.
“Now dip it in… sesame paste, I guess. Though oil dip is fine too.”
He dipped it in sesame paste.
“Now eat it!”
She was thoroughly enjoying bossing him around—until she realized that steaming hot slice of tripe was being held to her mouth.
On the phone screen, Shen Yanqing was leaning in, and the shot looked exactly like a boyfriend’s POV.
Xie Mi froze.
“Why are you feeding me?”
“Isn’t that how it goes?” Shen Yanqing put on an innocent look, those peach-blossom eyes of his dangerously captivating on camera.
Xie Mi instinctively looked up from the screen to his face—and found herself falling into a deeper whirlpool.
Their gazes locked, his eyes brimming with laughter.
“Teacher Xie, would this make your heart race?”
“……”
Her response was to bite the tripe and chew earnestly.
Shen Yanqing blinked, then chuckled softly.
“No wonder it’s you.”
He reclaimed the phone and reviewed the footage, chuckling from time to time.
Meanwhile, Xie Mi wasn’t entirely focused on the hotpot. Resting her chin in her hand, she chewed thoughtfully.
After a while, she suddenly said:
“I think it might.”
“Hm?”
Shen Yanqing looked away from the footage of her devouring watermelon, still smiling. “What did Teacher Xie say?”
“I mean the question you just asked.”
She turned her head to look at him. “I think I might feel my heart race.”
He froze. Then the tips of his ears flushed red. Just moments ago he’d been deliberately teasing her—but now his composure slipped, and he coughed lightly behind his hand.
Thinking he’d choked on the hotpot, Xie Mi quickly poured him a glass of water.
“Here, here—drink some.”
But as she leaned closer, his ears only grew hotter. He lightly pushed the glass aside and turned his head awkwardly.
“It’s not that I choked. I just…”
“…felt too moved.”
